And here's the next chapter. Rather short but I hope you enjoy it!
Ruby ran after Weiss, Blake and Yang trailing her.
"Weiss, what's going on? Who's she?" Ruby called out. The Atlas airship Weiss had been running after landed on the edge of the tarmac, steam hissing out as the gangway on the ship started to lower.
"It's my older sister."
The gangway of her ship opened and she resisted the urge to smile. Her sister stood on the tarmac, her right arm resting behind her back. Her sister's team mates stood next to her. She marched down, her mech's marching alongside her.
The blonde was tall and muscular, her arms quiet large. Her nose was crooked and a scar ran from her lip to her nose. The girl smiled at her; she was missing teeth.
The smaller girl next to her had black hair with an uneven red dye job. Her eyes looked unnatural, a bright silver that seemed to glow a bit. Or perhaps it was just due to the light from the setting sun. Winter felt her skin crawl a little as she continued to look at the girls eyes, causing the girl to tilt her head to the side.
Th-
Belladonna.
She narrowed her eyes at the Faunus, noticing her bow twitch, and the flicker of fear in her yellow eyes. Weiss stepped in front of Belladonna, throwing out her arms, a genuine smile on her face.
"Winter! I'm so happy to see you!" Weiss said. Her sleeve was soaked crimson. Winter scowled, and Weiss' eyes widened, looking at her sleeve before tucking her arm back behind her back.
Winter motioned for the mech's to move on before glaring at Weiss' team mates.
"You three, leave us. I need to talk to my sister alone." Her team mates glanced at Weiss, then at her before backing away. They walked out of earshot but Winter could see them standing, waiting, not too far away. Winter looked back at Weiss. Weiss was biting her lip, her head lowered, her gaze on the floor. "Show me your arm." Winter said. Weiss hesitated.
"Winter, its nothi-"
"Show me. Your. Arm." Weiss sighed, not looking at her as she rolled up the blood soaked sleeve. Winter grabbed Weiss' wrist, turning her arm so her underarm was visible. Winter's heart dropped as she looked at her scars; the faded white lines crisscrossing her sister's arm. None of them looked fresh. She turned her sister's arm over, not noticing any on her forearm.
"Winter I told you, its-" Winter looked at her sister's hand, narrowing her eyes at the pink scars in-between her knuckles.
"What is that?" Weiss tried to jerk her hand free of her grasp.
"It's nothing, you don't have to worry about it."
"Weiss." Weiss finally looked at her, looking into her eyes. Winter released Weiss' wrist and Weiss let her arm fall to her side. "Tell me the truth." Weiss sighed, and crossed her arms.
"I got into a fight with Mirror, and I punched the mirror she was in. I wasn't trying to hurt myself this time."
"I thought I told you to get…" she struggled to figure out how to put it delicately. "Assistance, with ridding yourself of her." Weiss looked away, rubbing her wrist.
"You did. I'm sorry." Winter sighed, and brushed a hand against Weiss' face, lifting her bangs off of the scar trailing down the left side of her face.
"How has your eye been feeling? Are you still having vision problems?" Weiss shook her head.
"No, it's much better now. It's still a little fuzzy when things are too far away but other than that it's fine." Winter lowered her hand, resting it on Weiss' shoulder. Weiss looked up at her. Winter smiled.
"It's good to see you again Weiss." Weiss smiled at her, resting her own hand on top of Winter's.
"You too, Winter. Do you know how long you will be here?" Winter shook her head.
"I'm here to meet with General Ironwood and the Beacon Headmaster. How long I will be here, or why I am meeting them, is all classified information that I can't share." Weiss pouted a little. "But I am a bit early. You can take me to your quarters, and introduce me to your…" She looked past Weiss, glaring at Belladonna. She caught her gaze and shrunk back, trying to inconspicuously hide herself behind the tall blonde. Winter looked back at Weiss. "Your team mates."
"Oh, I just know that they'll love you. Follow me." Weiss said. Winter brought her hand back, resting it behind her back, and watched her sister turn and start leading the way, her team mates looking over at them.
He staggered through Beacon's courtyard, slumping against a mech, drinking from his flask.
"Hm?" A woman with short white hair in an Atlas military uniform was marching ahead of him, a small girl in a light blue and white dress walking alongside her. He smirked, pocketing his flask. "Ice queen!" he called out.
Winter froze, her body getting even more rigid, if that was humanly possible. She turned towards him, annoyed.
"And here I was hoping General Ironwood was mistaken in including your name." He left the mech's side, stumbling over to her, resting a hand on his hip as he stood in front of her. She scowled at him, her nose wrinkling, and took a step back. "You're drunk." She said, her words dripping with venom.
"Gotta be if I'm gonna be dealin' with that prick of a boss of yours."
"I would advise you to hold your tongue; you're speaking about the most powerful man in Atlas." He snorted.
"Oh no. I would hate to piss him off." Winter sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What do you want, Qrow?"
"Wait. You know this drunkard?" Weiss asked, looking from Winter to him.
"Unfortunately." Winter said. Qrow noticed the crowd of people in the courtyard had stopped and were watching them. He noticed a tall man with gray hair run out of the crowd. He saw his nieces and a girl with black hair walk up behind Weiss. Yang shook her head in disapproval while Ruby beamed at him, a big smile on her face.
"I'm Ruby and Yang's Uncle Qrow, Weiss. I'm sure they've mentioned me at some point. I'm here 'cause I work for dear old Ozpin." He scowled and took a step forward. Winter stepped in front of Weiss and her friends, putting an arm in front of them defensively. "But your sister and Ironwood and all those other Atlas scum are making our jobs a helluva lot hard. Atlas ships in Vale's skies? Atlas troops on Vale soil?" He snorted. "A member of the Atlas Specialist Corps meeting with two Headmaster's in a secret meeting? How do you think all of this is going to look to the rest of the world, Winter?" She scowled at him.
"We were summoned here by Vale's council to ensure the safety of Vale's citizens during the Vytal Festival. We are not starting anything." She narrowed her eyes. "Or perhaps you were too busy getting drunk and stumbling into a gutter to know that, you pathetic lowlife." He laughed; that wasn't the worst thing he had been called by an angry woman.
"You're shit at insults." Winter rolled her eyes.
"If you're trying to provoke me into attacking you and disgracing my uniform, then you are wasting your breath." He cracked his knuckles, and gave her a grin.
"All right then."
She grabbed his wrist as he threw the punch; his form was sloppy. She grunted and flung him over her shoulder. He yelled as he was slammed to the ground. She stepped on his pit as she grabbed his arm, twisting it while she dug the heel of her boot into him.
"Get off me you white haired bitch!" She smirked, and dug her heel further.
"Captain Schnee!" Her eyes widened at the sound of his voice, and immediately released Qrow, stepping away from him and standing at attention. She saluted General Ironwood as he walked over to them; Glynda and Ozpin were following him.
"General Ironwood, sir!" Ironwood stopped in front of her, and looked at Qrow as he lay on the ground, coughing, holding onto his arm.
"At ease, Captain." She stood at ease. Qrow looked up at Ironwood and gave a weak wave.
"Hey, James." Ironwood sighed in disgust.
"I guess it was too much to hope you would take this seriously. You're drunk I assume?" Qrow held up his thumb and index finger, a small space between the two fingers.
"Just a lot."
"And you saw it fit to try and fight one of my officers?" Qrow shrugged.
"Seemed smart at the time." Ironwood glared at him before turning on his heels and marching away, shoving past Ozpin and Glynda.
"Oz, Glynda, I'll let you two take care of him. Captain, with me." She followed after the General, her back rigid.
Ruby rushed over to her uncle's side, helping him to his feet. She could smell the whiskey on him.
"I thought you said you were gonna stop drinking, Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked, holding onto his arm. He looked at her, his face softening, his expression falling. He exhaled, and ruffled her hair.
"My bad, kiddo." She heard Yang come up behind her.
"And I thought Ruby was bad without her scythe." He snickered at that.
"Your dad never was that good of a teacher." Yang snorted.
"Qrow." Ruby looked over to see Ozpin watching them, Glynda dispersing the crowd that had gathered. "My office." He said. Qrow's shoulders went slack and he slipped his arm out of Ruby's grip.
"I think I'm in trouble," he said.
"I mean, you did try to start a fight in the middle of our courtyard." Ruby said. He shrugged, and gave them a grin. He held out his fist, and Ruby bumped it with her own. Yang cocked an eyebrow at his fist before bumping it with her own.
"Catch you kids later." He said, walking away.
Blake and Weiss walked up to them.
"That guy was your uncle?" Blake asked. Ruby nodded, smiling.
"Yep! He taught me everything I know about fighting." Blake blinked.
"Really?" Yang held out a hand as she said
"He's like Ruby; he can't fight without his scythe." Weiss crossed her arms.
"He had no right to attack my sister like that." Yang scratched the back of her head.
"It sounds like they're all involved in some 'super secrete we can't know about any of the shit they do', kind of stuff, sooo. Maybe she had it coming?" Ruby laughed as Weiss huffed and started to scold Yang on how ridiculous that idea was.
The elevator doors open and Ironwood and Winter glared at them as they stood in front of Ozpin's desk.
"What is wrong with you?" Winter asked, irritated. Qrow pulled out his flask, causing Winter to snarl in disgust. "Put that fucking thing away!" she yelled, breaking her bearing and stepping towards him. Qrow cocked an eyebrow, shrugged, and tucked his flask back in his pocket.
"Winter, you don't have to yell." Ozpin said, hobbling over to his chair. Winter glared at him, her gaze icy, before looking over at Glynda.
"You all know how I feel about alcoholics, and you decide to include him, in a discussion like this?"
"He's the only one we have in her inner circle. We need him, Winter. Even if he is a drunken ass." Glynda said. Qrow crossed his arms.
"I'm standing right here you know," he said.
"We know, Qrow. We just don't care." Ironwood said. Qrow scowled, and stepped in front of Ironwood.
"After everything and everyone I've sacrificed for all of you, I would appreciate it if you treated me with the respect I fucking deserve." He pulled out his flask, noticing Winter flinch as he waved it around. "Yeah I drink, but if any of you saw half the shit I've seen you'd drink too. So don't act all high and mighty and like you can judge me when you're all busy sitting on your asses waiting on my Intel."
"We all appreciate the hard work you do for us, Qrow. But that does not mean that you get an excuse to act like a child." Ozpin said. Qrow crossed his arms.
"Tch. Fine. Whatever." He eyed his flask, noticed the death glare from Winter, and pocketed it. "Speaking of my intel, I've managed to find out what Salem has planned for Beacon." They all watched him, anxiety etching their faces. "She sent a member of her inner circle, Cinder Fall, to infiltrate Beacon and destroy its CCT. She's also the one responsible for Amber's current condition. She was assigned this mission several years ago, and hasn't been present for any of our little group table talks. Salem's playing her cards close to her chest but I managed to find that much out." Glynda's face darkened.
"That woman that attacked the CCT during the summer. That must have been her." She turned to Qrow. "What does she look like?"
"Last I saw her she had short black hair and orange eyes. Rather young looking too."
"Orange eyes…" Glynda crossed her arms, shaking her head. "She's the woman I fought the night Ruby was accepted to Beacon."
"What was she doing?" Qrow asked.
"She was piloting a bullhead for Roman Torchwick. Is he aware of Salem and the others?" Qrow shook his head.
"Probably not; too big for something like him. When Salem gives us assignments she leaves a lot of the 'how' up to us. Cinder probably has her own entire network by now." Ironwood rubbed his chin.
"If so, that would explain why the White Fang here has been behaving so strangely."
Qrow looked around the office, suddenly noticing something was missing.
"Where are the other two Headmasters? They need to hear this crap too." Ozpin took a sip from his coffee before answering.
"Leo has his heart condition and had to return to Mistral." He took another sip. "There was also apparently an urgent matter back at Shade Academy."
"Figures." Ironwood set his scroll onto Ozpin's desk, it flickered for a moment before a holographic projection of Vale City, the Amity Colosseum, and the various Atlas airships took up a part of the room.
"If your hunch about this Cinder Fall having her own network is correct, Qrow, my army will be more than enough to get rid of them." Qrow snorted, enjoying the sour look on Ironwood and Winter's faces.
"So typical James; all the subtlety of a rampaging Petra Gigas." Winter stepped forward.
"The Atlesian military will be more than enough to deal with whatever street thugs Cinder has working under her." She said.
"Oh yeah that's just brilliant, Atlas mechs fighting on the streets, gunning down people. Do you know what kind of panic that will cause? What that will bring to our doorsteps?"
"The Vale council brought us here, and we will do everything in our power t-"
"Screw the council!" Ironwood and Winter frowned at him. "They don't know what we know; if they knew about Salem and what we're really fighting they would be shitting themselves. Just because our politicians brought you in to make themselves feel better doesn't mean the people here want your 'help'."
"We're the strongest military in the world, Qrow. We are more than enough for whatever Salem throws at us." Winter said. Qrow snorted, and began to laugh, clutching his sides.
"You two are so fucking delusional. If-if you really think anything that you have can stand up to what I've seen her create, then you two are worse off than I am." Ironwood sighed and picked up his scroll off the desk, the hologram flickering before dying.
"So, Qrow, what would you suggest we do?" Ironwood asked. Qrow looked over at Ozpin.
"Ozpin's plan is our best option; find a candidate for the procedure." He glanced at Winter. "Preferably someone other than her." She narrowed her eyes at him. Glynda looked away, anger in her eyes.
"As luck would have it Qrow, I have decided upon the other possible candidate."
Cinder paced in front of him, Neo and Emerald watching him from their bunks.
"You're sure it was Qrow?" she asked. He nodded.
"Reeked worse than my dad, bit of a jackass, and bad hair. Had to be him." Emerald looked over at Cinder.
"He's supposed to be hunting down Spring. What is he doing here?" Cinder stopped, her back to them.
"We'll just have to find out. Perhaps Salem think's we need the extra help." Mercury saw her pull out her scroll, staring at the screen. "I'm not sure why she would think that though; our clever little friend has taken care of most of the heavy lifting." She turned back to them, her eyes still glued to her screen. "I need you two to get some rest. You both have a big day ahead of you in the tournament. And Neo?" Neo cocked her head to the side. "I'm going to need you to give our new guest a visit."
Neo smiled.
And that's it. Next chapter isn't going to be based on an episode, and it has something in it I know many of you have been waiting for.